UNSOLD flowers left over from Mother’s Day were delivered free of charge in one Herefordshire village as people continue to rally round to help each other during the pandemic.

The Co-Op supermarket in Kington distributed the flowers to care homes and individuals.

As one happy recipient put it: “At a time full of panic and fret for all, there was joy for many who have not been able to see their families.”

Both the village’s Co-op and Nisa stores have set aside shopping time for elderly and less able customers to buy their groceries.

Kington Town Council, Chamber of Trade and volunteers have joined forces to put forward a community response and are appealing for delivery drivers and helpers to distribute meals for those who are self-isolating.

At Lyonshall, parish councillors will be using its website notification service to reach as many people as possible.

Villagers are already offering to do shopping for those in need. In the small hamlet of Holmes Marsh, volunteers are leafletting households to gauge those who will need help for groceries and medicines.

Said one local: “Living in the countryside is so often thought to be challenging but this crisis has shown how supportive small, rural communities can be.”

From left Andy Bradley and Gary Baxter after giving a bunch of flowers to Paula Traylo